By: Contributed Report
Published: July 05, 2012

     Sunni O’Brien of Midlothian, a rising sophomore at St. Catherine’s, will attend the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, a challenging program for academically gifted second through twelfth graders this summer.

     Be A Scientist and The Ancient World (for 2nd through 6th graders) and Cryptology and Principles of Engineering Design (for 7th through 10th graders) are just a few of the more than nearly 100 CTY Summer Program courses available during two three-week sessions this summer.

     The format of the program makes it possible for bright students to work at an accelerated pace, study topics in depth, and explore subjects that are not usually available to students their age.

     By participating in CTY, students also have the opportunity to forge friendships with students from around the world who share their interests.

     CTY Summer Programs are offered at 25 sites, from Johns Hopkins University in the east to Stanford University in the west.

     The center offers two kinds of summer programs. Residential programs, available to students in grades 5-12, provide the opportunity to live on a college campus while studying and socializing with other bright, motivated students. Day programs, open to students in grades 2-6, give younger students the opportunity to pursue intellectually challenging topics in an active, dynamic setting.

     This Summer, Sunni will be taking a CTY Summer Program called Introduction to Astronomy, at Roger Williams University. In the course, students investigate light, optics and other areas of physics employed in the study of modern astronomy.
     They tour the universe, learning about the planets in the solar system, calculate distances to stars and investigate stellar lifecycles, learn about the evolution of galaxies, and discuss exotic objects such as quasars and black holes.

     Students visit a local observatory, planetarium, or science center, in order to combine theory with practical applications of astronomy.

     Sunni qualified for CTY Summer Programs by participating in CTY’s Annual Talent Search, which accepts applications from early September through May.

     During the Talent Search, advanced young learners take above-grade level tests designed for older students as a means of gaining insight into their abilities.

     Seventh and eighth graders take the SAT or ACT, the same tests used for college admissions, while second through sixth graders take the School and College Ability Test, an above-level test scaled for younger students.

     For more information about enrolling in the CTY Talent Search, go to: www.cty.jhu.edu.